China’s leading PC maker Lenovo Group (0992.HKG) is in early negotiations with multiple companies about partnering to develop smartphones, The Wall Street Journal reported. Asia-Pacific President Milko van Duijl commented on the joint venture negotiations in a June 4 interview, although did not give details on which companies were party to the talks. He declined to comment on reports that Lenovo might join with Japan’s NEC (6701.TYO, NEC1.FRA). Lenovo is already China’s second-largest smartphone vendor with 11% market share in 2012, trailing Samsung with 17.4% share, according to research firm IDC.